ECU vs. George Mason: Postgame Quotes
December 19, 2002 | Men's Basketball
"I think we were really outplayed tonight. I think George Mason was a basketball team that wanted it more than we did, it was disappointing. I kind of saw it coming though. We won some basketball games and I think there have been some players on this basketball team getting a little comfortable with their games."
"Tonight reality kind of slapped us in the face a little bit and I think a lot of our deficiencies came out tonight. We were just out-played, there is no excuse, out- played, out-worked, out-hustled, just got beat by a hungrier basketball team tonight."
On team's effort without Travis Holcomb-Faye ...
"Maybe some leadership, not having a senior out there hurt us. Until people on this basketball team put the program and the team ahead of any individual, then we have no chance of moving on here and that is what I am concerned about right now. I saw some attitudes come out tonight because things weren't going their way. If you don't take the good with the bad in life and in this game, it is going to be really tough."
On front court play ...
"We felt that we needed to get the basketball inside. We were playing against a young front court; they started two freshman up front and I think they physically moved us around and handled us inside tonight."
On overall performance ...
"We weren't playing that bad in the first half, I thought we handled the zone pretty decent. They had a two minute stretch in the first half where Larranaga gets eight straight points. We started to get control of the game and you need stops and then he hits a three in front of our bench and he hits another three. He killed us. A kid averaging nine points a game gets 29. We basically guarded him with veteran player and our kids just didn't respond."
On full court pressure defense ...
"We have played seven basketball games and our defense is pretty good. That is who we are right now, we went to the three quarter court pressure late in the game when we were in a hole."
"I told the kids in the locker room, I don't mind losing, I don't mind losing if we play well and we play hard and we play the way we are supposed to play."
"Losing tonight the way we played bothered me, that is not who we are. I am disappointed with this loss."
George Mason Assistant Coach Bill Courtney
"Our guys were really focused and they did a great job. Richard Tynes performance in the second half was tremendous and I think that played a big part in getting everyone else going."
On zone defense ...
"Our game plan was to play zone defense to begin the game and the biggest thing in the zone is we want to keep them off the glass."
On play of Jon Larranaga ...
"He played an absolutely terrific game. He and Raoul Heinen were kind of co-point guards tonight. They did a terrific job of organizing us and getting us into position. Jon was very good in penetrating and dishing, penetrating and pulling up and hitting the three-point shots tonight."
On team's presence throughout the game ...
"I don't think our kids know any better. Out of our six scholarship guys that we had out here, we had three newcomers. I don't think they know how to be nervous really yet, they just go out and play ball. Jon and Raoul are great leaders, they do a great job of directing those guys and getting them in the right position."
